Neither protests nor garbage piles stop French pension bill

By ELAINE GANLEY
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — An unpopular bill that would raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 has gotten a push forward. The French Senate voted 195-112 on Saturday to adopt the measure, despite protests and tons of uncollected garbage piling higher by the day. The legislation is expected to head Wednesday to a reconciliation committee. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called a meeting of ministers for Sunday evening to decide next steps. The government is hoping to refrain from invoking its constitutional authority to force the legislation through without a final vote. With labor unions opposed to President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform plan, some 5,400 tons of uncollected garbage piled up in the streets of Paris.